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Torresan S, de Scordilli M, Bortolot M, Di Nardo P, Foltran L, Fumagalli A, Guardascione M, Ongaro E, Puglisi F. Liquid biopsy in colorectal cancer: Onward and upward. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol 2024; 194:104242. [PMID: 38128627 DOI: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2023.104242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Revised: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains a leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. In recent years, liquid biopsy has emerged as one of the most interesting areas of research in oncology, leading to innovative trials and practical changes in all aspects of CRC management. RNAs and cell free DNA (cfDNA) methylation are emerging as promising biomarkers for early diagnosis. Post-surgical circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) can aid in evaluating minimal residual disease and personalising adjuvant treatment. In rectal cancer, ctDNA could improve response assessment to neoadjuvant therapy and risk stratification, especially in the era of organ-preservation trials. In the advanced setting, ctDNA analysis offers the opportunity to monitor treatment response and identify driver and resistance mutations more comprehensively than traditional tissue analysis, providing prognostic and predictive information. The aim of this review is to provide a detailed overview of the clinical applications and future perspectives of liquid biopsy in CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Torresan
- Department of Medical Oncology, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO), IRCCS, 33081 Aviano, Italy; Department of Medicine, University of Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy
| | - Marco de Scordilli
- Department of Medical Oncology, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO), IRCCS, 33081 Aviano, Italy; Department of Medicine, University of Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy.
| | - Martina Bortolot
- Department of Medical Oncology, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO), IRCCS, 33081 Aviano, Italy; Department of Medicine, University of Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy
| | - Paola Di Nardo
- Department of Medical Oncology, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO), IRCCS, 33081 Aviano, Italy
| | - Luisa Foltran
- Department of Medical Oncology, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO), IRCCS, 33081 Aviano, Italy
| | - Arianna Fumagalli
- Department of Medical Oncology, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO), IRCCS, 33081 Aviano, Italy
| | - Michela Guardascione
- Department of Medical Oncology, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO), IRCCS, 33081 Aviano, Italy
| | - Elena Ongaro
- Department of Medical Oncology, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO), IRCCS, 33081 Aviano, Italy
| | - Fabio Puglisi
- Department of Medical Oncology, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO), IRCCS, 33081 Aviano, Italy; Department of Medicine, University of Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy
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2
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Santini D, Botticelli A, Galvano A, Iuliani M, Incorvaia L, Gristina V, Taffon C, Foderaro S, Paccagnella E, Simonetti S, Fazio F, Scagnoli S, Pomati G, Pantano F, Perrone G, De Falco E, Russo A, Spinelli GP. Network approach in liquidomics landscape. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2023; 42:193. [PMID: 37542343 PMCID: PMC10401883 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-023-02743-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Tissue-based biopsy is the present main tool to explore the molecular landscape of cancer, but it also has many limits to be frequently executed, being too invasive with the risk of side effects. These limits and the ability of cancer to constantly evolve its genomic profile, have recently led to the need of a less invasive and more accurate alternative, such as liquid biopsy. By searching Circulating Tumor Cells and residues of their nucleic acids or other tumor products in body fluids, especially in blood, but also in urine, stools and saliva, liquid biopsy is becoming the future of clinical oncology. Despite the current lack of a standardization for its workflows, that makes it hard to be reproduced, liquid biopsy has already obtained promising results for cancer screening, diagnosis, prognosis, and risk of recurrence.Through a more accessible molecular profiling of tumors, it could become easier to identify biomarkers predictive of response to treatment, such as EGFR mutations in non-small cell lung cancer and KRAS mutations in colorectal cancer, or Microsatellite Instability and Mismatch Repair as predictive markers of pembrolizumab response.By monitoring circulating tumor DNA in longitudinal repeated sampling of blood we could also predict Minimal Residual Disease and the risk of recurrence in already radically resected patients.In this review we will discuss about the current knowledge of limitations and strengths of the different forms of liquid biopsies for its inclusion in normal cancer management, with a brief nod to their newest biomarkers and its future implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniele Santini
- Oncologia Medica A, Policlinico Umberto 1, La Sapienza Università Di Roma, Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Botticelli
- Oncologia Medica A, Policlinico Umberto 1, La Sapienza Università Di Roma, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonio Galvano
- Section of Medical Oncology, Department of Surgical, Oncological and Oral Sciences, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Michele Iuliani
- Medical Oncology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, Department of Medicine and Surgery, Università Campus Bio-Medico Di Roma, Selcetta, Italy
| | - Lorena Incorvaia
- Section of Medical Oncology, Department of Surgical, Oncological and Oral Sciences, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Valerio Gristina
- Section of Medical Oncology, Department of Surgical, Oncological and Oral Sciences, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Chiara Taffon
- Anatomical Pathology Operative Research Unit, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, Rome, Italy
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Research Unit of Anatomical Pathology, Università Campus Bio-Medico Di Roma, Rome, Italy
| | - Simone Foderaro
- Medical Oncology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, Department of Medicine and Surgery, Università Campus Bio-Medico Di Roma, Selcetta, Italy
| | - Elisa Paccagnella
- Department of Medical Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Sapienza University of Rome, C.So Della Repubblica 79, 04100, Latina, Italy
| | - Sonia Simonetti
- Medical Oncology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, Department of Medicine and Surgery, Università Campus Bio-Medico Di Roma, Selcetta, Italy
| | - Federico Fazio
- UOC Oncologia Territoriale, Polo Pontino, La Sapienza Università Di Roma, Latina, Italy.
| | - Simone Scagnoli
- Oncologia Medica A, Policlinico Umberto 1, La Sapienza Università Di Roma, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Francesco Pantano
- Medical Oncology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, Department of Medicine and Surgery, Università Campus Bio-Medico Di Roma, Selcetta, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Perrone
- Anatomical Pathology Operative Research Unit, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, Rome, Italy
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Research Unit of Anatomical Pathology, Università Campus Bio-Medico Di Roma, Rome, Italy
| | - Elena De Falco
- Department of Medical Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Sapienza University of Rome, C.So Della Repubblica 79, 04100, Latina, Italy
- Mediterranea Cardiocentro, 80122, Naples, Italy
| | - Antonio Russo
- Section of Medical Oncology, Department of Surgical, Oncological and Oral Sciences, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Gian Paolo Spinelli
- UOC Oncologia Territoriale, Polo Pontino, La Sapienza Università Di Roma, Latina, Italy
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Malapelle U, Angerilli V, Pepe F, Fontanini G, Lonardi S, Scartozzi M, Memeo L, Pruneri G, Marchetti A, Perrone G, Fassan M. The ideal reporting of RAS testing in colorectal adenocarcinoma: a pathologists' perspective. Pathologica 2023; 115:1-11. [PMID: 37314870 PMCID: PMC10462993 DOI: 10.32074/1591-951x-895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023] Open
Abstract
RAS gene mutational status represents an imperative predictive biomarker to be tested in the clinical management of metastatic colorectal adenocarcinoma. Even if it is one of the most studied biomarkers in the era of precision medicine, several pre-analytical and analytical factors may still impasse an adequate reporting of RAS status in clinical practice, with significant therapeutic consequences. Thus, pathologists should be aware on the main topics related to this molecular evaluation: (i) adopt diagnostic limit of detections adequate to avoid the interference of sub-clonal cancer cell populations; (ii) choose the most adequate diagnostic strategy according to the available sample and its qualification for molecular testing; (iii) provide all the information regarding the mutation detected, since many RAS mutation-specific targeted therapeutic approaches are in development and will enter into routine clinical practice. In this review, we give a comprehensive description of the current scenario about RAS gene mutational testing in the clinic focusing on the pathologist's role in patient selection for targeted therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Umberto Malapelle
- Department of Public Health, University of Naples Federico II, Naples (NA), Italy
| | | | - Francesco Pepe
- Department of Public Health, University of Naples Federico II, Naples (NA), Italy
| | - Gabriella Fontanini
- Department of Surgical, Medical and Molecular Pathology and Critical Care Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa (PI), Italy
| | - Sara Lonardi
- Medical Oncology 3, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV-IRCCS, Padua (PD), Italy
| | - Mario Scartozzi
- Medical Oncology, University Hospital and University of Cagliari, Cagliari (CA), Italy
| | - Lorenzo Memeo
- Department of Experimental Oncology, Mediterranean Institute of Oncology, Viagrande, Catania (CT), Italy
| | - Gianfranco Pruneri
- Department of Advanced Diagnostics, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori and University of Milan, Milan (MI), Italy
| | - Antonio Marchetti
- Center for Advanced Studies and Technology (CAST), University Chieti-Pescara, Chieti (CH), Italy
- Diagnostic Molecular Pathology, Unit of Anatomic Pathology, SS Annunziata Hospital, Chieti (CH), Italy and Department of Medical, Oral, and Biotechnological Sciences University “G. D’Annunzio” of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti (CH), Italy
| | - Giuseppe Perrone
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Research Unit of Anatomical Pathology, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Roma, Italy
- Anatomical Pathology Operative Research Unit, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, Roma, Italy
| | - Matteo Fassan
- Department of Medicine (DIMED), University of Padua, Padua (PD), Italy
- Veneto Institute of Oncology (IOV-IRCCS), Padua (PD), Italy
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4
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Parente P, Grillo F, Vanoli A, Macciomei MC, Ambrosio MR, Scibetta N, Filippi E, Cataldo I, Baron L, Ingravallo G, Cazzato G, Melocchi L, Liserre B, Giordano C, Arborea G, Pilozzi E, Scapinello A, Aquilano MC, Gafà R, Battista S, Dal Santo L, Campora M, Carbone FG, Sartori C, Lazzi S, Hanspeter E, Angerilli V, Mastracci L, Fassan M. The Day-To-Day Practice of MMR and MSI Assessment in Colorectal Adenocarcinoma: What We Know and What We Still Need to Explore. Dig Dis 2023; 41:746-756. [PMID: 37231848 DOI: 10.1159/000531003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The DNA mismatch repair (MMR) system is a highly preserved protein complex recognizing short insertions, short deletions, and single base mismatches during DNA replication and recombination. MMR protein status is identified using immunohistochemistry. Deficit in one or more MMR proteins, configuring deficient MMR status (dMMR), leads to frameshift mutations particularly clustered in microsatellite repeats. Thus, microsatellite instability (MSI) is the epiphenomenon of dMMR. In colorectal cancer (CRC), MMR/MSI status is a biomarker with prognostic and predictive value of resistance to 5-fluorouracil and response to immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy. SUMMARY In this Review, we describe the challenges the practicing pathologist may face in relation to the assessment of MMR/MSI status and any open issues which still need to be addressed, focusing on pre-analytic issues, pitfalls in the interpretation, and technical aspects of the different assays. KEY MESSAGES The current methods of detecting dMMR/MSI status have been optimized for CRCs, and whether these techniques can be applied to all tumor and specimen types is still not fully understood. Following the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), tissue/site agnostic drug approval of pembrolizumab for advanced/metastatic MSI tumors, MMR/MSI status in gastrointestinal tract is a common request from the oncologist. In this setting, several issues still need to be addressed, including criteria for sample adequacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Parente
- Unit of Pathology, Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy
| | - Federica Grillo
- Anatomic Pathology, Department of Surgical Sciences and Integrated Diagnostics, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
- Pathology Unit, Ospedale Policlinico San Martino IRCCS, Genoa, Italy
| | - Alessandro Vanoli
- Anatomic Pathology Unit, Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Pavia and Fondazione IRCCS San Matteo Hospital, Pavia, Italy
| | | | | | - Nunzia Scibetta
- UOC Anatomia Patologica ARNAS Ospedali Civico e G. Di Gristina, Palermo, Italy
| | | | - Ivana Cataldo
- Surgical Pathology Section University and Hospital Trust of Treviso, Treviso, Italy
| | - Luigi Baron
- Surgical Pathology Unit ASL Napoli 3 Sud, Ospedale S. Leonardo, Naples, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Ingravallo
- Section of Pathology, Department of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Ionian Area, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Bari, Italy
| | - Gerardo Cazzato
- Section of Pathology, Department of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Ionian Area, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Bari, Italy
| | - Laura Melocchi
- Unit of Pathology, Department of Oncology, Fondazione Poliambulanza Hospital Institute, Brescia, Italy
| | - Barbara Liserre
- Unit of Pathology, Department of Oncology, Fondazione Poliambulanza Hospital Institute, Brescia, Italy
| | - Carla Giordano
- Pathology Unit, Università La Sapienza; Policlinico Umberto I, Rome, Italy
| | - Graziana Arborea
- Department of Pathology, National Institute of Gastroenterology IRCCS "S. de Bellis", Castellana Grotte, Italy
| | - Emanuela Pilozzi
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Maria Costanza Aquilano
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, ASST Grande Ospedale Metropolitano/Niguarda, Milan, Italy
| | - Roberta Gafà
- Anatomic Pathology Unit, University Hospital of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Serena Battista
- Pathology Department, S. Maria della Misericordia Hospital, Udine, Italy
| | - Luca Dal Santo
- Department of Pathology, Ospedale dell'Angelo, Venice, Italy
| | - Michela Campora
- U.O.M. Anatomia e Istologia Patologica e Citodiagnostica Ospedale S. Chiara, Trento, Italy
| | | | - Chiara Sartori
- U.O.M. Anatomia e Istologia Patologica e Citodiagnostica Ospedale S. Chiara, Trento, Italy
| | - Stefano Lazzi
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Section of Pathology, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Ester Hanspeter
- Department of Pathology, Provincial Hospital of Bolzano (SABES-ASDAA), Bolzano-Bozen, Italy
| | - Valentina Angerilli
- Surgical Pathology Unit, Department of Medicine (DIMED), University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Luca Mastracci
- Anatomic Pathology, Department of Surgical Sciences and Integrated Diagnostics, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
- Pathology Unit, Ospedale Policlinico San Martino IRCCS, Genoa, Italy
| | - Matteo Fassan
- Veneto Institute of Oncology, IOV-IRCCS, Padua, Italy
- Surgical Pathology Unit, Department of Medicine (DIMED), University of Padua, Padua, Italy
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5
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Angerilli V, Fornaro L, Pepe F, Rossi SM, Perrone G, Malapelle U, Fassan M. FGFR2 testing in cholangiocarcinoma: translating molecular studies into clinical practice. Pathologica 2023; 115:71-82. [PMID: 37017301 PMCID: PMC10462997 DOI: 10.32074/1591-951x-859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 04/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a heterogeneous group of neoplasms burdened by a dismal prognosis. Several studies have investigated the genomic profile of CCA and identified numerous druggable genetic alterations, including FGFR2 fusions/rearrangements. Approximately 5-7% of CCAs and 10-20% of intrahepatic iCCAs harbor FGFR2 fusions. With the recent advent of FGFR-targeting therapies into clinical practice, a standardization of molecular testing for FGFR2 alterations in CCA will be necessary. In this review, we describe the technical aspects and challenges related to FGFR2 testing in routine practice, focusing on the comparison between Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) and FISH assays, the best timing to perform the test, and on the role of liquid biopsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Angerilli
- Department of Medicine (DIMED), Surgical Pathology Unit, University of Padua, Padua (PD), Italy
| | - Lorenzo Fornaro
- Medical Oncology, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Pisana, Pisa (PI), Italy
| | - Francesco Pepe
- Department of Public Health, University of Naples Federico II, Naples (NA), Italy
| | - Silvia Maria Rossi
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Research Unit of Anatomical Pathology, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Roma, Italy
- Anatomical Pathology Operative Research Unit, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, Roma, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Perrone
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Research Unit of Anatomical Pathology, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Roma, Italy
- Anatomical Pathology Operative Research Unit, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, Roma, Italy
| | - Umberto Malapelle
- Department of Public Health, University of Naples Federico II, Naples (NA), Italy
| | - Matteo Fassan
- Department of Medicine (DIMED), Surgical Pathology Unit, University of Padua, Padua (PD), Italy
- Veneto Institute of Oncology, IOV - IRCCS, Padua (PD), Italy
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